Bill H.44 proposes significant amendments to Vermont's impaired driving laws, focusing on enhancing enforcement and procedural standards. A key change requires the Family Division of the Superior Court to report adjudications of delinquencies and youthful offender violations related to impaired driving to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The bill reclassifies individuals with a blood alcohol content at the legal limit as committing a violation and introduces a provision for prosecuting those who refuse to comply with a warrant for a blood sample as a DUI refusal criminal charge. Additionally, it includes new definitions, such as "serious bodily injury," and clarifies that individuals cannot refuse a search warrant for a blood sample, with refusal leading to potential criminal charges.

The bill also amends existing legal language, replacing "juvenile" with "youthful offenders" and establishing stricter penalties for violations resulting in death or serious bodily injury, including mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders. It specifies that if a person has an alcohol concentration at or above the legal limit within two hours of operating a vehicle, it creates a rebuttable presumption of impairment at the time of operation. Furthermore, it limits the issues that can be raised during hearings and ensures that orders of delinquency or youthful offender status are reported to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, impacting financial responsibility requirements. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4-33, 23-13, 33-5202, 33-5229